Automobile locking mechanism



Nov. 3, 1931.

l.. L. cHEssMAN 1,829,784

AUTOMOBILE LOCKING 'MECHANISM Filed Aug. 29. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .a INVEN TOR. 051W/ A TTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1931. l.. L.. cHEssMAN y 1,829,784

AUTOMOBILE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 29. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cwa' ' a? QNQ.

l y INVENTOR.

ilfgf BY .s is j ii I A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1931. l.. cHEssMAN 1,829,734

AUTOMOBILE LOCKNG MECHANISM Filed Aus- 29. 1928 3 sheets-sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

t-EY' A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 3, 1931 LOUIS I.. CHIESSMAN, OF SYRAC'USE, NEW YORK nuroiiroBILE LOCKING MECHANISM Application :Bled August29, 1928. Serial No. 302,820.

Thisinvention has for its object, a particularly simple and efiicient YYYmechanism lforlocking up an automobile whereby the start-.

ing and ignition switches can not be wired around and the lengine tampered with and started when these systems are locked.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter s'et forth and'claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. l

Figure 1 is a fragmentary; horizontal, sectional view of an automobile embodying my invention, unessential parts being removed. Figure `2 is a fragmentary elevation of parts seen in Figure 1, partsbeing omitted. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional `view on a reduced scale through a conventional autonobile hood and frame, parts being omitted. Figure 4 is a front view of the secret lock neans for controlling the operation of the ocking mechanism. e

Figure 5 -isa front view of parts seen'in Figure 4, partly in section, the fronty plate )eing removed. Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6, Figure-5.. This invention comprises generally, :witches in thestarting and ignition circuits f the engine of a motor vel icle, said switches eing located under the hood, means for lockng the hood closed, the switches being closed vhen the hood is unlocked and open when he hood is locked and an operating member or unlocking the hood and closing the witches and vice versa, said operating memler extending outside of the space under the Lood and being usually located or exposed n the .instrument 'board of the vehicle and ontrolled in its operation by secret means s for instance, a key operated lor a combinaion lock.

The motor vehicle may be of any convenional type including the usual frame or hassis having the sills S, instrument board dash D, cowl C, hoo d H and internal comustion engine E having the usual electric tarting and ignition circuits, the' starting circuit having the'usual'normally open starting swit'ch operated by the starting lever, button'or pedal. The hood H may be of any suitable type including the two sides hinged at their upper edges and movable upwardly `5lon their hinges to make the parts thereof un-- 'der the hood accessiblef 1 designates a switch in theV starter circuit, this switch including xed and movable contacts 3, 4, the fixed contact 3 being 00 mounted upon al suitable plate or bracket 5 located under the head and secured to any convenient part here shown as the inclined floor board F of the vehicle. Thel movable contact 4 is supported and operated as will 55 be hereinafter described. u

6 designates the switch for controlling the ignition circuit or the flow of current to the distributor and eventually to the spark plugs. of the engine. This switch also includes 70 fixed and movable contacts 7 and 8, the fixed contact being carried by a suitable plate or vbracket 9 at one side of the engine. The movable 'contact or member 8 of the switch is operated and supported las will be herein- 15 ,fter described. Both switches 1 and 6 vare located under the hood. i lT he mechanism for locking vthe opposite sides of the hood comprises locking members as bolts 10 movable into and out of interlocking engagement with locking lugs 11 or other equivalent `means provided onthe inner faces of the movable sides of the hood near the lower edges thereof, these lugs 11 being provided with perforations through which the 35 rlocking bolts 10 pass. The bolts 10 are slidable in suitable guides provided in this embodiment of my inventlon by lugs 12 projecting -upwardly from brackets or plates- 13 secured to the side sills S. The bracket 9 for 90 the switch is part or an extension of the bracket 13 which supportsthe bolt 10 on the right hand side of the hood.

The hood locking mechanism also in'cludes a motion transmitting member common 'to 95 both bolts 10, this member being mounted on the dash D under the hood and is here shown asa rock shaft 14 mounted in suitable brackets 1'5 on the dash D and connected through y suitable motion transmitting connections to the bolts 10. These motion transmittin conne'ctions are here shown as a system of evers or links 16 and 17, the levers or links 16 bef ing rock arms mounted on opposite ends of the' shaft 14 and extending downwardly v therefrom. Each lever 17 is plvoted between its ends at 18 and at 19 and 20 to one of the rock arms 16 and to one of the vbolts 10, it being connected to both of these parts by pin and slot connections. The pivots 18'fo'r the levers 17 are carried by suitable brackets 21 secured to any 'convenient part of the vehicle as the floor board F.

The switches 1 and 6-a re also operated from the rock shaft 14 or any part operated or movable with the rock shaft. l

In the illustratedl embodiment of my in'- vention, the movable Contact 4 of the switch 1 is carried by a reciprocating rod 22 ovable in suitable guides 23 supported by the platey and the motion transmitting means between the shaft 14 andthe sliding swit'ch rod 22 comprises a link or rock arm 25v mounted on the rock shaft 14 and extending downwardly therefrom and pivoted at 26 to the rear end of the rod 22, the pivotal connection being so formed as to permit the reciprocating action of the rod during the Swingin movement of the'arm 25 in lan arc -j without inding. l

- As here illustrated, a pin and slot connection is employed. The movable contact or ymember 8 ofthe switch 6 is also operated in any suitable manner by the movement of 1 the rock shaft 14. This movable member is also a' rod reciprocally movable in guides 27 on the plate or bracket 9 and itis here shown as connected by a bracket or arm 28 to the Y adjacent locking bolt 10 for one side of the hood.

The common motion transmitting member or ro'ck shaft 14 is operated by a' member preferably located o n or exposed on the instrument board 1 or any other convenient location outside of the hood.

The operating member here shown is .a push and pull rod 3() movable forwapdly and rearwardly through the dash D under the cowl C, its forward end extending underv the hood, the rod having a suitable handle 31 at its rear end in front of the instrument board. i This rodis connected to the shaft 14 to rock the shaft 14 by any suitable m01 tion transmitting connections.

The connections here shown comprise a lever 32 pivoted between its ends at 33, the

'lever being arranged in vertical position and pivotedat its upper end at 34 to the front end of the rod 30 and its lower end at 35 to an upwardly extending .rock arm 36 on the shaft 14. The pivotal points 34 and 35 are loose enough or in the nature of pin and slot rconnections to perm-it the operations ofthe levers 32 and 36 without binding. The pivot asesinas 33 of the lever 32 iscarried by a. suitable bracket 37 on the dash under the hood.

When the hood is locked, the switches 1 and 6 are open so that the engine can not be started andl all points Where the electrical systems vcould otherwise be wired around,

are rendered inaccessible. by the fact that the hood is locked closed.

To start the engine, the rod 30 is pushed inwardly thus rocking the shaft 14 anti-clockwise and through the connections 16 and 17, withdrawing the bolts 10 rearwardly out through the locking lugs 11 on'the sides of the'hood and vthis motion oftherock shaft moves the rock arm'25 thereon to the right Figure 2 pushing the switch rodv 22 of the switch 1 to the right Ato bring the movable contact 4 between the fixed contacts 3 thus closing the switch in the starting lsystem so that when the usual starter lever or button is pressed, the circuit is closed through the starting motor. `Such movement of the roch shaft 14 also similarly closes the switch 6 oi the ignition system as the arm 28 carrying the movable-member 8 of. the ignition switci is carried by one of the hood locking bolts 10 The reverse of this operation again locks th( hood and opens the switches 1 and 6.

The operation of the operating member 3( 1s controlled byk some secret means her shown, as a combination lock. This lock i: of the general construction shown in my Pat ent No. 1,524,815 issued February 3, 1925 This combination lock also controls the elec tric circuit to the horn or other alarm se that when the hood is locked, the horn can no be sounded or played with.

' This lock mechanism comprises a locking bolt 40 movable into and out of a perforatioi 41 in the operating member or rod 30, a secre lock means for controlling the operation o the bolt 40, this means and the bolt 40am other parts being locatedin a suitable cas 42`mounted in the instrument board and hav lng a face plate 43 on the face of the instru ment board.

'This lock mechanism may be of any suit able construction, that here shown being a. axially movable vrod 44 which is movable az lally by a push button 45 in one direction an the rotary tumblers 46 of a combination loc mounted on the rod and serving to lock th rod from axial movement. When the tun b'lers are all moved to a predetermined pos: tion, the rod 44 is shiftable axially by pusl lng 1n the push button 45; and this axial mov( ment shifts the bolt 40 tok unlock'the opera ing rod 30.

The rod 40 `is held in its operated positie by any suitableV means as an angular ari 4 thereon coacting with a spring presse latch or detent 48 and thisbolt 40 is return@ to its normal position by means of a ush bu' ton 49. The movable contactr() o a switc connected in the horn circuit is carried t and out of engagement with ixedcontacts 51. All the foregoing parts being ,housed within the case v42.

The push button 45 and the end of the rod have cam means l45a which coact inclined plane fashion so that pushing in of the push buttons moves the rod 44 to the left when the rod 44 is unlocked by setting the proper combination. The movement Aof the push button 45 isagainst a suitable spring 52 as in my patent referred to and after the push button 1s operated and hence, the bolt operated and latched in its operated position bythe arm 44 and detent 48, the rod 44'is free to return to its normal position under the influence of a spring 52 unless it is locked in its retracted position by upsetting the combination. A

The bolt 40 may however be held in its unlocked position by the rod 30 provided the rod 30 is depressed before the push button 45 is released. The push button 49 and the arm 47 also have cam means 47"I acting inclined plane fashion, whereby pushing 1n of the push button 49 thrusts 'the arm 47 `to the right, Figure 5 and'hence,-returns the bolt 40 into its locked position provided of course, the operating rod for the hood locking mechanism has been retracted to its original position. The depression of the push button 49 is also against the action of a suitable returning sprmg.

In operation, the operator first sets the right combination in the tumblers 46 and then presses the push button 45 thus moving the rod 44 to the left against the action of the spring 52 and shifting the bolt 40 to the left,

the bolt 40 being held in its shifted positionl by the detent 48 acting on the end of the arm The operator then depresses the knob 31 at the end of the push rod 30, thus withdrawing the locking bolts 10 for the hood and closing the switches 1 and 6 so that upon depressing of the usual starting switch or button of the automobile, the engine will start and continue to run. y l

When the push button 45 is released, it returns to its normal position.

To lock the hood and hence, make the parts thereunder inaccessible, the rod 30 is pulled outwardly to its original position and the push button 49 depressed, thus restoring the bolt 40 into interlocking engagement with the rod 30 and then the tumblers turned to upset the combination. In order to work on the engine or any parts under the hood when the engine is'idle, the tumblers are operated to set the right combination and the push button 45 depressed and then the rod 30 depressed to unlock the hood locking bolts 10. The hood can then be raisedl and then the parts can be restored to their normal position while the hood is raised by `depressing .i the push button 49.

Owing to the location of the switches in the starting and ignition circuits under the hood and the locking-of the hood, it is practically impossible to start and run the engine or to wire around the switches controlling the starting and the ignition circuits and furthermore, owing to the location in the housing of the lock mechanism of a'switch in the horn circuit, the horncan not be blown by meddle? some persons when the car is locked.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a motor vehicle including the usual frame, instrument board,

dash board, a hood enclosing the engine, and electric starting and ignition systems, the starting system having the usual operator operated starting switch therein, of normally closed auxiliary switches in the starting and'ignition circuits, said switches being located in the hood, slidable locking bolts extending lengthwise of the sills of the frame under the lhood and coacting with opposite sides of the hood to lock the hood closed, an arm extending from one of the slidable bolts and connected with one of the auxiliary switches for operating the same, a transverse rock shaft extending across the frame and connected with the sliding bolts for actuating the-latter, a motion transmitting connection between the rock shaftand the other auxiliary switch, and an operating member for the rock shaft extending through the dash board. i

2. The combination with a motor vehicle including the usual frame, instrument board,-

dash board, a hood enclosing the engine, and electric starting and ignitlon systems, the starting system havin the usual operator operated starting switc therein, or normally closed `auxiliary switches in the starting and Vignition circuits, said switches being located of the sliding bolts and one of the auxiliary l switches, means for connecting the other auxiliaryv switch with'the intermediate depeniing arm of the rock shaft, and an operating member connected with the upwardly extending arm of the rock shaft and extending through the dash board.

3. The combination with a motor vehicle including the usual frame, instrument board, dash board, a hood enclosing the engine, and electric starting and ignition systems, the starting system having the usual operator '1Q for operating the same, a transverse rock shaft extending across the frame and-having n. operated starting'switch therein, ornormally closed auxiliary switches in the startingv and ignitioncircuits, said switches being located in the hood, slidable locking bolts extending lengthwise of the sills 4of the frame under the hood and coacting with opposite sides of' v the hoodtolockthe hood closed, an arm exl In testimony whereof,`lI 'have hereuntoA i signed my name, at S racuse, in the county oi Onondago,v and in t e State of New York, this 27th day of August, 1928.

u y LOUIS L. CHESSMAN.

tending from one of the slidable boltsand connectedI withl one of the auxiliary switches terminal arms connected with the slidable lbolts and actuating the'same, slidable'rods yconnected with the auxiliary switches, an arm extendingfrom one ofthe said bolts and connected with the slid-able rod of one of the auxiliary switches, an intermediate ,arm carried by the rock shaft and connected with the slidable rod of the other auxiliary switch, and an operating member for the rock shaft extending through the dash board.

erating member,

4. The combination with a motor vehicle including the-usual frame, instrument board, y dashboard, hood enclosing the engine and an electric starting system having theusual starting switch therein and an ignition system, of normally closed auxiliary switches in the starting and ignitin circuits, mechanism for locking the hood closed, a single o erating member and connections between t e opthe hood' locking mechanism andthe auxiliary switches.

" 5. The combinationwith a motor vehicle l including the usual frame, instrument board, dashboard, hood enclosing the engine andan electric starting system having the usual starting switch therein and an ignition vsys-- tem, of no rmally closed auxiliary switches in the startlng Y and ignitionl circuits, .said

switches being located underthe hood, mech-A anism under the hood for locking the hoodl i closed, a single operating member and connections between the operating'member, the

hood locking mechanism and the auxiliaryl switches and secret Ilocking means for controlling the operation of the operating member. n

including theusual frame, instrument board, dashboard, hood enclosing the engine and an electric starting system having the vusual starting switch therein and an ignition system,of normally closed auxiliary switches in the startingy and vignition circuits, y.said

I 6.- The combination with a motor vehicle switches being located under the hood, mechal l nism under the hood for locking the hood closed, a single operating member and connections between the operating member, the hood ,locking mechanism and theauxiliary switches and 'secret'locking means for controlling the operation ofthe operating member, having a concealed locking-bolt movable-to and from the operating member and engaging the same between the ends thereof; 

